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Pope Vows to Bring Abusive Priests to Justice

Benedict says the church will pursue justice for abusive priests

By

STACY MEICHTRY

Updated April 19, 2010 12:01 a.m. ET

ROME—Pope Benedict XVI met privately Sunday with a group of clerical-sex-abuse victims in Malta, pledging to bring sexually abusive priests to justice and to implement measures to protect children from abuse.

The meeting was Benedict XVI's first encounter with sex-abuse victims since a wave of clerical abuse allegations washed across Europe this year, roiling his papacy. He previously met with abuse victims during visits to the U.S. and Australia.